The horizontal line represents the person’s life.1654 - born1707 - died

Gerbillon, John Francis

, one of the Jesuit missionaries in China, and author of some historical observations on great Tartary, and accounts of some of his travels,
inserted in Du Halde’s History of China, was born in 1654,
became a Jesuit in 1670, was sent to China in 1685, and
arrived at Pekin in 1688. He obtained the highest favour
with the emperor, for whom, he wrote “Elements of Geometry,” from Euclid and Archimedes; and a practical and
speculative geometry, which were splendidly published
at Pekin in the Chinese and Tartarian languages. The
emperor permitted him to preach, and to appoint preachers
throughout his vast dominions, bttt was always desirous to
have him about his person. He died at Pekin in 1707,
superior general of all the missions in China. He wrote
an account of his journey to Siam, which has not been
published. 2

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